Fiscal chief named over council protest

Berwyn Mayor Michael O'Connor pushed through a new finance director this week despite opposition from City Council.

O'Connor overruled the council's vote at Tuesday's meeting and appointed John Dolasinski to be the town's finance director, at least temporarily.

Dolasinski, the former finance director of Brookfield, will hold the Berwyn post for 30 days. In May, he could be appointed permanently by the council. Until then, O'Connor said he plans to appoint Dolasinski every 30 days, if the town attorney deems that action legal.

"I am confident [Dolasinski] will prove his worth and value, and the board will eventually welcome him with open arms," O'Connor said, referring to the council. "The board will see his professionalism while working side-by-side with him to get our budget done."

O'Connor's decision upset some council members, who said that there wasn't an adequate search for a finance director, and that O'Connor didn't involve them enough in the search process. Some also said Dolasinski's salary would be too high.

Dolasinski is scheduled to make $90,233 a year. O'Connor defended Dolasinski's salary by saying that 12 other local municipalities are looking for a finance director, and many are offering larger salaries.

Sharon Weilmuenster, an assistant finance director who was running Berwyn's finance department without a director, was placed on administrative leave Feb. 17. O'Connor would not comment on the move.